For the last two years my daughter has done this strange breathing habit where you can hear her taking these short, slightly deeper breaths. I took her to the allergist but they stated it wasn't consistent with something caused from allergies. I spoke with ped and they didn't seem to be concerned. A FB friend said her daughter had done a similar thing and the doctor had said it was a nervous condition. The pattern did start at a rather stressful time when we were fostering my nephew and seemed to had stopped when he was no longer living with us. We pinpointed a pattern that shr would also do this during stressful times at school. However now it seems she does it at random. Just now she came to ask me about it and was saying that it also gives her headaches. Its like a breath someone would take through their nose or mouth for half a second (yes I just timed it :P ) with slightly more force than a normal breath and repeatedly but not constant (may only last for a minute or more). It actually bothers her that she does it sometimes and other times she doesn't know she is doing it.
Any ideas?
A friend's child does this, and it is his 'tic' associated with Tourette syndrome. It happens more often when he is anxious or tired, but can happen any time. You definitely need to talk to the pediatrician to get her evaluated.
if its a stress response or anxiety kind of response perhaps a therapist would help her work thru the issues without needing to alter breathing.. if shes doing it without realizing it then there may be an underlying cause and i would start with the pedi and not stop till she no longer has the issue
I've known kids to get palpitations when they're anxious and that can affect breathing a bit. It can cause shortness of breath. Is that what it's like? If so, I'd just have the paediatrician check her next visit.
Or it can be short shallow breaths from being nervous. I suppose that could cause headaches (less oxygen to brain).
It doesn't remind me of allergies though. One of my kids has quite severe allergies. He did have some tic like behavior for a while as a preteen. He used to do this thing with his eye. We determined his eye and nose felt kind of scratchy (from allergies) and he got into this habit of stretching them to relieve the itch. Not sure I can describe that accurately, but it took us a long while to figure that one out. He outgrew it and allergy pills did the trick too.
This doesn't remind me of that though.
But the tic like behavior (sometimes doesn't have to be a full on tic) sounds possible. Our doctor had him explain something to her and he didn't have a tic whatsoever if his mind was concentrating on something else.
It is good that you asked a doctor and I think you could certainly ask again if you want to!
From just reading what you have written here, it sounds like it could be a "nervous tic" of sorts, and maybe now it is being exacerbated simply by the fact that your daughter is entering the stressful years of preteen life and puberty. The part about it giving her a headache, sounds consistent with any unusual breathing pattern (the unusual flow of oxygen could be giving her a headache).
Since it is bothering her and giving her headaches, it might be good to press the topic with her doctor. Maybe the "cure" will even be to just teach her some relaxation exercises or deep-breathing exercises.
Guess I don't have experience with this because it sort of sounds like sighing to me but that probably isn't right.
I can't really tell if this is an involuntary thing (like a yawn or a sneeze - it just happens and you don't control it) or a developing habit that she's doing without thinking about it (but she could control it if she thought about it).
Maybe some meditation breathing techniques might help?
I don't think it could hurt anything.
http://how-to-meditate.org/breathing-meditations
http://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/mindful_breathing
http://www.chopra.com/articles/3-kid-friendly-meditations...
My son been through this situation some time ago. Our ped said it is a nervous tic and prescribed a kind of allergy syrup that also relieves anxiety symptoms. it resolved in 2 weeks. i hope she feels better soon.
Updated
My son been through this situation some time ago. Our ped said it is a nervous tic and prescribed a kind of allergy syrup that also relieves anxiety symptoms. it resolved in 2 weeks. i hope she feels better soon.
Updated
My son been through this situation some time ago. Our ped said it is a nervous tic and prescribed a kind of allergy syrup that also relieves anxiety symptoms. it resolved in 2 weeks. i hope she feels better soon.
